{
  "id": 8171323,
  "title": "Indonesia gets its first aircraft carrier amid debate over cost and military ambitions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/indonesia-gets-its-first-aircraft-carrier-amid-debate-over-cost-and",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T04:04:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian",
    "slug": "the-guardian",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/18/indonesia-first-aircraft-carrier-italy-warship-its-giuseppe-garibaldi"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Indonesia has acquired its first aircraft carrier, the former Italian warship ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, sparking debate over its cost and purpose. The 41-year-old vessel, capable of short takeoff and vertical landing, arrived in Jakarta on Friday and was welcomed with a military ceremony. Italy gifted the ship, which was retired in 2024, to bolster Indonesia's maritime security and disaster response capabilities.\n\nThe transfer, aimed at expanding Italy's defence engagement with Southeast Asia, also saves Indonesia from the cost of decommissioning the ship. Indonesia would become only the second Southeast Asian country with a carrier, following Thailand's HTMS Chakri Naruebet since 1997.\n\nThe carrier will be commissioned as KRI Gajah Mada, named after a 14th-century Majapahit-era military leader. Defence development is a priority for President Prabowo Subianto, who has advocated for submarines, frigates, fighter jets, and more defence cooperation. However, the acquisition has raised questions about whether Indonesia needs a carrier given its fiscal pressures and mounting costs.\n\nDefence analysts, economists, and opposition politicians argue that the country may not require a carrier and that the government should prioritize spending on other essential projects. Critics question the vessel's operational necessity, warning that retrofitting the carrier could cost over 16 trillion rupiah ($900 million) alone.\n\nProponents, such as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, argue that the aircraft carrier will serve as a mobile command centre and support hub for helicopters, drones, and maritime operations, helping combat forest and peatland fires and respond to natural disasters in the archipelago nation. Nevertheless, the debate continues over the true cost and purpose of this acquisition.",
  "summary": "The gift from Italy has sparked fierce debate among defence analysts and opposition politicians who question its true cost and purpose Indonesia has received its first aircraft carrier, a former Italian warship that the government says will strengthen the archipelagic nation’s maritime security and disaster response capabilities. The 41-year-old former ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, with capacity for…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Indonesia welcomes its first aircraft carrier, prompting debate over cost and military ambitions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/indonesia-welcomes-its-first-aircraft-carrier-prompting-debate-over",
        "published": "2026-09-18T02:46:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Indonesia welcomes former Italian warship as its first aircraft carrier",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/indonesia-welcomes-former-italian-warship-as-its-first-aircraft",
        "published": "2026-09-18T05:40:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Khaosod English",
        "title": "Indonesia welcomes its first aircraft carrier, prompting debate over cost and military ambitions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/indonesia-welcomes-its-first-aircraft-carrier-prompting-debate-over-8192178",
        "published": "2026-09-18T06:13:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Indonesia acquires first aircraft carrier amid military upgrade",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/indonesia-acquires-first-aircraft-carrier-amid-military-upgrade",
        "published": "2026-09-18T07:54:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}